Electrical-contact-controlling float.



PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

I. G. WATERMAN, ELECTRICAL CONTACT CONTROLLING FLOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1903. EENEWED SEPT- 7. 1904.

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PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

v I. G. WATERMAN. ELECTRICAL CONTACT CONTROLLING FLOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25', 1903. RENEWED SEPT. 7. 1904.

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Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC G. WATERMAN, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRlCAL-CONTACT-CONTROLLlNG FLOAT.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,056, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed June 25, 1903. Renewed September '7, 1904. Serial No. 223,654. (No model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo Gr. WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical-Contact- Controlling Floats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical-contactcontrolling floats.

In my application for an electrical-valvecontrolling system for bath-tubs, lavatories, &c., Serial No. 156,671, I have disclosed an electrical-contact-controlling float adapted to complete the circuit of the. electromagnetic supply-valve to cut off the Water-supply to the bath tub or lavatory when the water therein reaches the proper height and then to automatically break said circuit to prevent continuance of the current in the electromagnetic valve or valves.

The present invention is for the foregoing purpose, although it is obviously adaptable for convenient use in various other connections.

The invention comprises a contact controlled by the rise or fall of the water, movable contacts for engagement by said contact, means for positioning the movable contacts so that they will be ready for engagement by the contact controlled by the rise and fall of the water, and an electromagnet energized to disengage the movable contacts from the other contact when the circuit is made to thereupon break the circuit for the purpose aforesaid.

The details of construction are set forth hereinafter and the novel features embodied in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the head; Fig. 3, a detail view of the armature; Fig. 4, a detail vertical section of a modification, and Fig. a front elevation The float tank or casing 1 has a ipe 2 leading to the bath-tub, lavatory, or other receptacle in connection with which the device is intended to be used. In this tank or casing is a float 3, having a stem 4:, provided with an insulated metal contact-head 5. In the top of the float-tank is an insulating-head 6, through which the stem 4 loosely passes at 6. Extending laterally from the head 6 is a solenoid 7 of a construction common to my several inventions, in which is a movable core or armature 8, carrying at its outer end an insulating-block 9, having contacts and 11, 10 being connected to one terminal of the solenoid 7 by wire 12 and the other terminal, 13,.of thesolenoid and the other terminal, 14, leading from 11, being in-circuit with the electromagnetic valve. In the armature is a slot 15, which loosely receives the end of one arm, 16, of a bell-crank 17, which is pivoted to the head at 18 and has the end of its other arm, 19, positioned under the contact-head 5.

Assuming the float to be down at the bottom of the casing or tank 1, the cooperation of the bell-crank 17 with the head 5 and armature 8 keeps the armature projected, as shown in full lines. When the rise of the water in the fioat tank or casing eventually brings the contact-head 5 against the contacts 10 and 11, the circuit through the device controlled by the float-as, for instance, one of my electromagnetic valvesis completed, and as the solenoid 7 is also included in the circuit controlled by the contacts the solenoid becomes energized and draws in the armature 8, pulling the contacts 10 and 11 away from the contact-head 5, thus breaking the circuit. This action brings the bell-crank 17 to the position shown by dotted lines. The parts remain in these positions until the water is withdrawn from tank or casing 1, whereupon the float falls and the contact-head 5, by its engagement with the bell-crank 17, again draws the armature out, positioning the contacts 10 and 11 so they will be engaged by the head 5 when the float rises again.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the insulating-block 20 on the end of the armature is triangular in crosssection, and the contacts 21 and 22,, corresponding to contacts 10 and 11, are embedded in the sides of the block and extend longitudinally thereof a little below the surface. EX-

on the float-stem are contacts 23 and 2%,which are hinged at 25 and provided with shoulders 26 and held in upright position by spring 27. On their upper inner faces these contacts have points or lugs 28, adapted to snap into the grooves in which contacts 21 and 22 lie and to engage said contacts when the float is raised to the proper height. A spring 29 tends to project the armature and insulating-block carried thereby. When the Water raises the float, the contacts 23 and 24 ride up the inclined sides of the head 20 and the lugs 28 snap into engagement with the contacts 21 and 22, whereupon the circuit being completed through the solenoid the armature is attracted thereinto and the engagement of contacts 21 and 22 with contacts 23 and 2t is broken. Immediately this happens the spring 29 again projects the armature, bringing the end of head 20 against the contacts 23 and 2a, which have previously closed together, which give at their hinges laterally. WVhen the float falls, the contacts 23 and 24 resume their upright position ready for a repetition of the foregoing operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an electrical circuit, and fluid-operated means for opening and closing said circuit, of electromagnetically-controlled means for automatically opening said circuit and thereupon maintaining it open after initial completion of the circuit.

2. The combination with relatively movable contacts adapted for engagement, of electromagnetic mechanism adapted to separate said contacts at the time they are brought together and to thereupon keep them separated.

3. The combination with relatively movable contacts adapted for engagement, of electromagnetic mechanism adapted to automatically break the circuit of said contacts at the time they are brought together and to thereupon keep said circuit open.

4. The combination with relatively movable contacts, of an armature controlling the engagement of said contacts, and an electromagnet controlling said armature and which is energized at the time the contacts are brought into engagement, whereby said contacts are thereupon separated and maintained in separated arrangement.

5. The combination with relatively movable contacts, of an armature controlling the engagement of said contacts, and an electromagnet controlling said armature, said electromagnet being in circuit with the contacts and energized at the time said contacts are brought into engagement, whereby said contacts are disengaged automatically after having been engaged and maintained in separated arrangement.

6. Thel combination with a fluid-receptacle, and a fluid-operated device adapted to move therein according to the position of the fluid, of a contact operated by the fluid-operated device, a contact with which said contact is adapted to engage, and electromagnetic mechanism controlling the engagement of said contacts.

7. The combination with a fluid-receptacle and a fluid-operated device adapted to move therein according to the position of the fluid, of a contact operated by the fluid-operated device, a contact with which said contact is adapted to engage, and electromagnetic mechanism adapted to open the circuit of said contacts when said contacts become engaged.

8. The combination with a fluid-receptacle and a fluid-operated device adapted to move therein according to the position of the fluid, of a contact operated by the fluid-operated device, a contact with which said contact is adapted to engage, and electromagnetic mechanism in circuit with said contacts and adapted to separate them when they are brought into engagement.

9. The combination with an electric circuit, and fluid-operated means for opening and closing said circuit, of means for automatically opening said circuit and thereupon maintaining it open after initial completion of the circuit.

10. The combination with a fluid-operated device, of a contact carried thereby, an electromagnet, an armature for the electromagnet. at contact carried by the armature and adapted to engage the contact on the tluidoperated device, and circuit connections whereby the electromagnet is energized and the armature attracted to disengage the contacts and maintain them disengaged immediately upon engagement of said contacts.

111 testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAO G. "ATERHAN.

Witnesses:

WALLACE R. SEAVEY, ELMER SnAvnr. 

